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With the cost of living in San Diego rising ever higher, it’s no surprise that so many San Diegans are moving to Texas and other states with more affordable housing. If you’re in love with the San Diego area but ready to save some money by moving to a more affordable suburb, there’s good news: you’ll find many affordable cities near San Diego with rent and home prices up to 35% lower yet still within commuting distance.
Here's a look at the cheapest places to live near San Diego sorted by distance from downtown San Diego and how median home prices and rent compare to the city. If you’d prefer to stay in the city, you can also check out our guide to the most affordable San Diego neighborhoods.
Table of Contents
#1. National City – Cheapest Place to Live Near San Diego
Population: 56,173
Median household income: $51,735
Median home price: $660,000 (29% lower)
Average rent: $1,881 (37.6% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 7 miles
The closest city on this list is also the cheapest place to live near San Diego. Just 7 miles from downtown San Diego, National City offers a great value to renters and home buyers with housing costs about one-third lower than San Diego. National City is the second oldest community in the county and hosts the National City Automobile Heritage Day Car Show every year.
#2. Lemon Grove – One of the Top Cheap Cities Near San Diego for Families
Population: 27,627
Median household income: $71,082
Median home price: $756,500 (18.7% lower)
Average rent: $1,960 (35% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 9 miles
The small city of Lemon Grove offers affordable living less than ten miles from San Diego and close to beaches and the mountains of East County. Lemon Grove is a family-friendly community known for its 3,000-pound lemon monument and regular community events. Families love the small-town atmosphere with many locally owned shops and restaurants to explore. Lemon Grove Park is always a great place to spend the day with the family!
#3. La Mesa – One of the Best Safe and Affordable Cities Near San Diego
Population: 61,121
Median household income: $75,616
Median home price: $713,500 (23.3% lower)
Average rent: $2,505 (16.9% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 10 miles
La Mesa is a dream come true if you want to stay close to San Diego but enjoy a lower cost of living. Just ten miles from downtown San Diego, you’ll pay about 20% less for rent and homes for sale in this mid-sized city known as the Jewel of the Hills.
La Mesa is one of the largest cities in East County San Diego, a region known for its affordability, family-friendly amenities, and outdoor recreation. It boasts natural beauty, a charming downtown area with bars, shops, and eateries, and beautiful parks yet it’s an easy commute to San Diego. La Mesa is a top choice for cheap places to live near San Diego for families and outdoor enthusiasts!
Find out ifliving in La Mesa is right for you with our in-depth guide.
#4. Chula Vista – Top Pick for Cities Like San Diego But Cheaper
Population: 275,487
Median household income: $92,913
Median home price: $800,000 (14% lower)
Average rent: $2,523 (16.3% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 10 miles
Looking for places like San Diego but cheaper? You don’t need to go far. Chula Vista is the largest suburb of San Diego and the 7th largest city in Southern California. Chula Vista is a large, affluent city only 15 minutes from downtown San Diego with a diverse landscape of mountains, canyons, and coastline with many parks and miles of trails. It also boasts some of the best attractions in the area.
Chula Vista isn’t just one of the most affordable places to live near San Diego – it’s one of the best cities for families with great parks, highly rated schools, and fun attractions.
Chula Vista’s Bayside Park is the crown jewel of the city with magnificent views of San Diego Bay, Coronado Bridge, and the skyline. Chula Vista is also home to Sesame Place San Diego, a Sesame Street-themed children’s amusement park, and Living Coast Discovery Center, an aquarium with exhibits of animals native to the San Diego Bay.
#5. Imperial Beach – Affordable San Diego Suburb on the Coast for Renters
Population: 26,137
Median household income: $68,917
Median home price: $1.135 million (22% higher)
Average rent: $2,570 (14.8% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 14 miles
The small beach city of Imperial Beach is south of San Diego and close to the border with Tijuana, Mexico. While it’s definitely not affordable for home buyers, renters will find rent about 15% cheaper in Imperial Beach. It’s the cheapest city in San Diego County on the coast for renters with 4 miles of coastline. You’ll be just minutes away from Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado and everything Chula Vista has to offer.
#6. El Cajon – One of the Largest Affordable Cities Near San Diego
Population: 106,215
Median household income: $58,193
Median home price: $742,000 (20.2% lower)
Average rent: $2,190 (27.4%)
Distance to San Diego: 15 miles
Looking for affordable areas near San Diego that still offer big-city living? El Cajon is a great choice! It’s the 6th largest city in San Diego County and one of the major cities in East County. El Cajon is popular with families and seniors thanks to its family-friendly atmosphere, great amenities, and cultural attractions. It’s also known for its many festivals like HauntFest, Mother Goose Parade, and America on Main Street.
Seniors who are downsizing, relocating closer to family, or transitioning into a new home can benefit from professional San Diego senior move management services that help organize every step of the moving process.
Learn more aboutEl Cajon and what living in “the Box” is like with our in-depth guide to the city.
#7. Santee – One of Many Cheap Places to Live Near San Diego in East County
Population: 60,037
Median household income: $92,848
Median home price: $770,000 (17.2% lower)
Average rent: $2,396 (20.6% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 20 miles
Part of the East County region in the southern portion of San Diego County, Santee is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts and young families. The lower cost of living compared to San Diego is a big draw, but Santee is more than just one of the cheapest places to live near San Diego.
Trading life near the beach for living in Santee offers a quieter atmosphere with family-friendly amenities and superb outdoor recreation. Santee is home to top destinations for entertainment and outdoor fun like Big Rock Park, Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve, and Carlton Oaks Country Club. Families enjoy not only good schools but plenty of kid-friendly activities like the Santee Drive In Theatre and Sportsplex USA Santee, a 15-acre sports complex, and the Cameron Family YMCA.
You’ll find plenty of established neighborhoods and amenity-packed master-planned communities in Santee with homes at many price points.
#8. Winter Gardens – Affordable Town Near San Diego for Families
Population: 22,380
Median household income: $79,099
Median home price: $680,000 (26.9% lower)
Average rent: $2,093 (30.6% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 20 miles
Winter Gardens is the cheapest place to live in San Diego County after National City if you want to stay within 25 miles of San Diego. With rent and home prices around 30% lower than San Diego, your money goes farther while living in Winter Gardens!
One of the most affordable towns near San Diego, Winter Gardens is known for its beautiful scenery and parks. This hidden gem, tucked away just 20 miles from San Diego, is right next to the picturesque Lindo Lake County Park, the perfect spot for strolling around the lake and feeding the ducks.
#9. Poway – One of the Cheapest Cities Near San Diego for Active Families
Population: 48,841
Median household income: $119,847
Median home price: $1.24 million (33.3% higher)
Average rent: $2,519 (16.5% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 23 miles
One of the largest inland North County San Diego cities, Poway is known for its great quality of life, outdoor recreation, excellent schools, and beautiful scenery. It’s a great place to live for active families with bike paths, hiking trails, and tons of open green space. Poway is home to Lake Poway, set in the hills surrounding the city, with outdoor recreation opportunities and the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve.
Poway isn’t affordable as a home buyer – it’s both the most affluent city on this list and has the highest median home price. As a renter, it’s cheaper than San Diego. There are many master-planned communities in Poway with resort-style amenities which drives up the median home price, but you can find some more affordable options. If you’re looking for the best schools, it’s worth checking the Poway area for deals or more affordable rent.
Our complete guide toliving in Poway covers more about the city’s cost of living, neighborhoods, and more!
#10. Escondido – One of the Most Affordable San Diego Suburbs in North County
Population: 151,038
Median household income: $70,115
Median home price: $820,000 (11.8% lower)
Average rent: $2,230 (26% lower)
Distance to San Diego: 32 miles
One of the largest and oldest suburbs of San Diego, Escondido is also one of the cheapest places to live near San Diego. If you like the San Diego North County area but want a more affordable community than Poway, Escondido is a great option that’s known for its attractions.
You’ll be a 30-minute drive from San Diego without traffic, but the trade-off is a much lower cost of living, more space, and great amenities for families. Escondido is home to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, one of the most-visited attractions in San Diego, as well as the San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, a walled, outdoor sculpture garden, and Dixon Lake.
Is Escondido the right city for you? Learn more with our guide toEscondido living!
Map of Affordable Cities Near San Diego
The entire San Diego metro area, like the rest of Southern California, is always going to be expensive, but there are still plenty of comparatively affordable cities near San Diego that offer a great quality of life and nearby beaches with housing costs up to one-third lower. If one of these cheaper cities near San Diego seems like a good fit for you, the trusted San Diego movers at Republic Moving & Storage are ready to help with an easy, worry-free move. Give us a call today for a free moving quote and the superior customer support you deserve.
Bill Lovejoy
Bill Lovejoy is the president of Republic Moving and Storage. Purchasing the assets of Republic Relocations in May 2008. In 2008, Republic did $700K of business and today is over $15 Million. Republic was named AMSA’s 2010 Agent of the Year for Service Excellence after only two years in business.
Bill is proud that he grew up doing every facet of the business from a local mover, over the road driver, salesperson, operations manager, and general manager. (and just about everything else in between) Before purchasing Republic, Bill was with Bekins Moving and Storage where he served as a Senior Vice President and was a partner. He was responsible for three HHG companies as well as two logistics companies.
A proud Father of six children, and a lovely wife, Carol, Bill constantly works to keep a balance between work and family Life. Bills “stress relieving” hobbies include racket ball, basketball, tennis, and golf.
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